Revolutionizing Your Workweek: A Fresh Approach to Meetings
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Breaking Free from Meeting Overload
For those who have been following my Saturday updates, you know my aversion to meetings. Recently, I discovered a strategy that I must share with fellow meeting skeptics.
Last November, I expressed my frustration with spending an average of 18.3 hours weekly in meetings. Shockingly, this has now increased to 19 hours, according to my Google calendar.
This doesn’t even include the time spent preparing for and following up on these meetings.
The Global Meeting Dilemma
I’m not alone in this struggle. A 2025 study by Microsoft, which examined workplace habits across 31 countries, revealed that employees face interruptions every two minutes due to meetings, emails, or notifications. Another study from 2023 highlighted that ineffective meetings are the main productivity barrier, with 68% of participants feeling they lack time to concentrate during work hours.
Implementing a New Strategy
So, how did I manage to reclaim my time? I decided to consolidate all my meetings into just two days each week. This change has allowed me to focus on my tasks for the rest of the week.
This approach, which I call “meeting stacking,” involves communicating my intentions to my team and being adaptable. For instance, if my manager requests a meeting, I accommodate it.
The Impact on Productivity
This method has significantly boosted my productivity. I no longer have to juggle between meetings and focused work, which can be quite disruptive. On non-meeting days, I have more time to think creatively and work on new ideas.
Interested in trying it out? Please do, and let me know how it works for you.
